Here’s How Zoning Laws Could Help Solve America’s Housing Crisis

There are several major reasons that so many Americans are having such a hard time finding affordable housing. But one of the factors that hasn’t received as much attention as others is zoning … and a growing number of local and state governments are starting to address the issue head-on.

How it could work

The process, broadly referred to as “zoning reform,” essentially allows officials to change the specified use of certain areas in order to allow residential units to be built in areas that were previously off-limits.

In addition to addressing a shortage of housing, this could also stem the tide of unused office space that has dominated many areas of cities since remote work became so popular.

Not only does this reform involve changing rules at the government level, but it can also clear out some of the bureaucratic red tape that has stymied efforts by investors and developers to build apartment complexes and other multi-family dwellings.

An emerging leader

Although projects are in varying stages of development across the U.S., one city has emerged as a beacon of what zoning reform can accomplish.

Minneapolis, Minnesota took the bold step of removing single-family zoning altogether. This meant that larger dwellings could be built in areas of the city that had previously been reserved only for structures meant to house one family.

Some other steps that have helped create more living space within a finite area have included:

• Eradicating parking requirements in certain parts of the city
• Permitting more housing density in the downtown area
• Allowing the construction of secondary homes on existing lots

Pew Research’s Alex Horowitz said the proof is in the pudding, explaining: “We saw Minneapolis add 12% to its housing stock in just that five-year period [2017 to 2022], far more than other cities.”

Chris Agee February 19th, 2024

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